Hi everyone. I haven't posted before but have been reading the boards for the past few months during my GMAT preparation and really value everyone's opinions.
I took the GMAT today for the first time, and scored an abysmal 570. To put that in perspective, my practice tests have been:
MGMAT 600 (September - first test I took as a "baseline," before any prep or studying whatsoever)
MGMAT 650 (early October, after a month of studying)
MGMAT 690 (December)
MGMAT 690 (December)
MGMAT 740 (January)
MGMAT 710 (January)
GMATPrep 640 (the new software freaked me out) (January)
GMATPrep 690 (January)
GMATPrep 690 (February)
GMATPrep 720 (February - 4 days ago, this past Sunday)
I've taken a GMAT prep course using OG 12, and done four sessions of private tutoring going over every math question I got wrong in my practice tests. I am much stronger verbally, usually averaging around a 45 on that side of the test. My best score on that side has been a 47.
For quant, I tend to score right around 42. On a bad practice test, it was a 36. I fear the math side of the test, while my biggest hurdle in verbal is trying to slow down.
My real score today was Q29, V40, Total 570. TOTAL DISASTER.
My essays were excellent prompts, I remembered the outline I had formulated before the test, and I finished both of those feeling good and not overly taxed.
But then, I was a minute and a half late coming back from my essay break. I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to tell how much time had passed during the break. Then, my proctor forgot to log me back in after walking out of the room. She came back in and logged me in. During this time, waiting at my desk to be logged in, I lost another 2 minutes of quant time. I think knowing I lost 3-4ish minutes on quant flustered me and I totally lost my focus. I was stumbling on easy, basic arithmetic questions. I tried to keep it together for verbal but I was pretty sure I had bombed quant.
Clearly, I will need to take the test again. I'm aiming for a 700 (of course). I've been studying for months and have run out of fresh practice tests. I'm going to give it one more go and try again in March.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice on how to best prepare for round two?
I took the GMAT today for the first time, and scored an abysmal 570. To put that in perspective, my practice tests have been:
MGMAT 600 (September - first test I took as a "baseline," before any prep or studying whatsoever)
MGMAT 650 (early October, after a month of studying)
MGMAT 690 (December)
MGMAT 690 (December)
MGMAT 740 (January)
MGMAT 710 (January)
GMATPrep 640 (the new software freaked me out) (January)
GMATPrep 690 (January)
GMATPrep 690 (February)
GMATPrep 720 (February - 4 days ago, this past Sunday)
I've taken a GMAT prep course using OG 12, and done four sessions of private tutoring going over every math question I got wrong in my practice tests. I am much stronger verbally, usually averaging around a 45 on that side of the test. My best score on that side has been a 47.
For quant, I tend to score right around 42. On a bad practice test, it was a 36. I fear the math side of the test, while my biggest hurdle in verbal is trying to slow down.
My real score today was Q29, V40, Total 570. TOTAL DISASTER.
My essays were excellent prompts, I remembered the outline I had formulated before the test, and I finished both of those feeling good and not overly taxed.
But then, I was a minute and a half late coming back from my essay break. I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to tell how much time had passed during the break. Then, my proctor forgot to log me back in after walking out of the room. She came back in and logged me in. During this time, waiting at my desk to be logged in, I lost another 2 minutes of quant time. I think knowing I lost 3-4ish minutes on quant flustered me and I totally lost my focus. I was stumbling on easy, basic arithmetic questions. I tried to keep it together for verbal but I was pretty sure I had bombed quant.
Clearly, I will need to take the test again. I'm aiming for a 700 (of course). I've been studying for months and have run out of fresh practice tests. I'm going to give it one more go and try again in March.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice on how to best prepare for round two?
